Your bachelor’s degree is behind you (maybe far behind you), and you’ve decided to go back to school for your graduate degree. That’s exciting! Are you ready for the journey ahead? Know that, while grad school will certainly have its stressful moments, it will also be a fun, productive, and rewarding chapter of your life—and you will not be alone.
Read on for 6 tips to prepare for graduate school:
- Build relationships with your professors and peers. You never know when you might need to call on faculty members or classmates for help with understanding a concept or brainstorming project ideas. Also, offer them your advice, help, and contacts to build rapport and create a relationship that’s give and take.
- Challenge yourself. No one said grad school would be easy—so don’t be afraid to push the envelope a bit to see what you are capable of. Doing the bare minimum of coursework might seem like a good strategy for balancing school with the rest of life, but it may affect your performance and retention. Make sure you are fully focused and giving your coursework your all.
- Take the breaks you need. Burnout is never a good thing, so make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and giving yourself some personal time. These practices might seem like no-brainers, but busy students often neglect self-care. Taking care of your mind and body will give you stamina for the long haul.
- Take advantage of school networking events/mixers. You can make some great connections and maybe find a mentor along the way. When you put yourself out there and build meaningful relationships with your peers, doors will open for you.
- Set realistic goals for yourself. When you create goals that are attainable, you are more likely to achieve them in a timely manner. Write them down and create a timeline showing simple steps toward accomplishing them. Keep them in a place where you will see them daily.
- Join at least one professional organization or group. Group membership looks great on your resume, and you might make some valuable contacts who can set you up for success down the road. You don’t need to join every professional group available—look for the organizations that can provide the most opportunities for your future career.
If you are preparing for a career in the rehabilitative or health sciences, consider the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS), a graduate institution specializing in health sciences education. Our programs blend digitally delivered coursework with labs or immersion weekends in our on-campus, state-of-the-art simulation centers. We offer degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, education, and health sciences, as well as continuing education programs. For information about how to apply, our stellar faculty, and upcoming events, check out the following webpages:
- Application deadlines
- How to apply
- Financial aid information
- Academic calendar 2023–2024
- Faculty bios
- Upcoming events (webinars, open houses, etc.)
We wish you the best on your journey toward your graduate degree—and a fulfilling career in healthcare! Just remember to maintain those important relationships, challenge yourself daily, give yourself a break, attend important events, set goals, and make connections—these ingredients all contribute to the recipe of success.
“Excellence without effort is as futile as progress without preparation.” —William Arthur Ward
